INJURIES HAMPERING WIDE RECEIVER

The injury bug has bit the Liberty football team at wide receiver this spring. The most notable is injury is a torn ACL suffered by CJ Daniels on the first day of spring practice. Head coach Hugh Freeze mentioned last week that there is a chance Daniels could be back in the fold for the first game of the 2022 season. Additionally, Demario Douglas and CJ Yarbrough have missed time this spring due to hamstring injuries.

“We’re missing both CJs and Demario right now which is a big chunk of the production that we would expect out of that receiver room,” lamented Freeze.

Those three could have been expected to be opening day starters if healthy. Douglas and Daniels were the two leading receivers for the Flames last season. The next two receivers were outgoing seniors Kevin Shaa and DJ Stubbs with Shedro Louis being No. 5 on Liberty’s receiving list last year. With them missing time, the Flames have turned to some others in the spring to get some additional work.

“Caleb Snead has a chance,” said Freeze. “Noah’s got to get more consistent, he should be and hopefully these last two weeks he will take a step forward. We need Treon to continue to develop. He’s got a skill set that could help us too. Khaleb Coleman, also. Those four guys are the ones we are looking to have a solid two weeks in spring.”

Douglas and Daniels are the only two receivers that have playing time in the slot for the Flames. Behind them, Liberty has some question marks at slot receiver, prompting the coaching staff to make some adjustments during the spring.

“We’ve moved Javian (Lofton) in there today and thought he showed a little promise and Brody (Brumm) and then Kylen Austin has got to really come on, I hope,” Freeze said Monday of slot receivers. “D’Wayne Crawford is getting some reps there too, but we moved Javian in there today. We haven’t watched the film yet, but there were times when I thought he looked promising there also.”

HAWAII TRANSFER RB DAE DAE HUNTER STANDING OUT

Dae Dae Hunter joined the Flames this spring after transferring from Hawaii where he led the team in rushing with 651 yards and three touchdowns on 101 carries. He is one name that has caught Coach Freeze’s attention.

“Really excited about what I’ve seen with Dae Dae,” Freeze said of Hunter who could develop into an every down back for the Flames this fall. “I think he adds another weapon to us offensively. I think he’s physical. I think he has outstanding vision as a runner.”

Quarterback Malik Willis led the team in rushing each of the last two years. In 2021, he rushed for 878 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Flames will lean on their running backs to help replace most of that production, as well as the 454 yards and 3 touchdowns that outgoing senior Joshua Mack had last year.

In addition to Hunter, TJ Green and Shedro Louis will be the top candidates to shoulder the load at running back. Green had 477 yards and 4 touchdowns in his first year with Liberty in 2021. Louis rushed for 446 yards and 4 touchdowns. Malik Caper and Troy Henderson add some depth at the position.

“I like that room,” Freeze said. “I think you could see us some probably with two of them on the field and using Shedro some in a lot of different ways. Hopefully we can center our run game more around them and throw in some of the quarterback type runs that Malik had also with some guys that may be gifted toward that.”

BREWER ELEVATING COMPETITION AT QB

As Liberty looks to move forward without Willis at quarterback, the Flames have four guys fighting for the starting spot this spring. In addition to Johnathan Bennett, Kaidon Salter, and Nate Hampton who return, all with a combined zero starts at the college level, Liberty brought in the veteran Charlie Brewer.

Brewer started 39 games for Baylor and helped lead them to the 2020 Sugar Bowl before transferring to Utah. Regardless of how the quarterback battle plays out, Brewer has helped elevate the competition level in that room this spring.

“I believe competition, in general, makes us all better if you accept it,” said Freeze when asked about Brewer. “The people that want or feel something should be given to them probably won’t fare very well when the competitiveness starts in a position group or on a team, but there’s no question that he’s elevated the competition in that room. I haven’t seen any signs that the other kids are backing down from that competition. It’s always good to have a guy who has some experience that has played in some games like the ones we’re going to be asked to play and had some success in them. I think it’s a positive all the way around.”

FRESHMEN DBS MAKING NOISE

Under Freeze, the Flames have brought in talented defensive backs in nearly every signing class. This year, Dexter Ricks and Jayden Sweeney are two that are making early noise as true freshmen in spring practice. Ricks could break into the two deep at corner this fall while Sweeney is a favorite to make the two-deep rotation at safety.”

“Yeah, I love him,” Freeze said of Ricks. “I think he’s got this silent confidence about him for a true freshman. He’s given me a lot of quality reps right now that will help add depth to that room. Those two freshmen DBs – Sweeney and Ricks both – I think we were right to recruit them.”